Modern Architectural Marvel in Minneapolis Makes Beautiful Music for $2.2M

by Tiffani Sherman

Marvelous in Minneapolis: Stack House Has Built-in Piano Room — Realtor.com

A contemporary dwelling known as the Stack House has hit the market for the first time.

“The architect coined the term, and it has been featured in a couple of magazines,” explains listing agent Barry Berg, with Coldwell Banker Realty, including Dwell.

“As he was designing the home and getting a sense for how the house would naturally lie on the site, he found himself stacking cubes on top of one another to achieve the stacking effect,” Berg says.

The 3,323-square-foot, three-story home in Minneapolis is listed for $2,195,000.

Great room with piano alcove
Landmark Photography

The current owners tore down another dwelling to deliberately design this space, which was completed in 2016.

“In order to take advantage of the [lake] views and the fact that the site is somewhat vertical, the main living level of the house is the second level up from the street,” Berg explains. “Having south-facing light means you really get the best of all the natural light coming into the home.”

The listing calls the structure a “tree house.”

“It is basically in the trees,” Berg says. “Because of the elevation of the lot and natural terrain, the main level opens up to the backyard and it’s surrounded by nice, beautiful, and mature trees. When you’re in the home, and the leaves are on the trees, you feel like you’re in a tree house.”

The design includes a built-in performance space, reflecting a passion of one of the sellers, who was a piano major in college.

“It’s what [the owners] refer to as their piano alcove, which is elevated and overlooking the great room with tremendous acoustics,” Berg says. “They enjoy entertaining and letting music in particular be a major part of their entertaining.”

The kitchen and main living spaces, including a great room with a high ceiling and fireplace wall, are on that second level.

The three bedrooms and two bathrooms are a floor above, with open areas looking down to the level below.

“I love it for its light, for it openness, and for its fresh design,” Berg says. “It’s really designed the way many people these days like to live—in a large loft-condominium with very high ceilings and really using the square footage to full advantage.”

The lowest level has a two-car garage and a separate apartment.

“It has its own entry on the ground level and is a one-bedroom and one-bathroom unit,” Berg explains.

The apartment would be perfect for guests, staff, or in a multigenerational family arrangement.

Berg adds that the clean lines and natural light are real standout features.

“I love the brightness of the property, and it’s built with very good materials so it’s nicely appointed,” he says. “It is sophisticated without being fussy.”